This acts as my "parent blog". It's side bar contains contact information, links to other sites, ordering specifics, background content, and more. It also has a complete collection of my floral designs for cards and prints.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

I used a Maine themed Christmas design this year using the spruce trees and pine cones to create the mandala and its array. I have added a pine cone border with a Christmas greeting, and also show an emerging pattern background made with photos of pine cones. I darkened it somewhat to use it for the mandala array. This magnificent tree sits in front of my brother's house. The first time I saw it, I said Christmas tree. Pine cones are the Maine state flower, so they are doubly appropriate for celebrating a Maine Christmas. Of course, other New Englanders and Northeasterners will enjoy this creation as well.

Now that I am back in Maine, I have started to design Maine and New England themed creations. To that end, I have completed designs made with dandelion flowers. I have also registered my eighth domain name: Mainely Mandalas. I show the mandala, the mandala array, a dandelion border, and a background made from dandelion greens. I used a darkened version of this for the array.

Zazzle Flash Panel

INTRODUCTION

The first entries act as an introduction to this site and each successive posting builds on those that precede. So if this is your first visit to this site, we suggest that you start with the first posting and follow from there. *******I like the blog format because it allows me to tell a story.

MY OTHER BLOGS

This site acts as my "parent blog". The sidebar contains ordering information, background specifics, contacts, etc. It is also a complete collection of my card and print designs with flowers. I am up to 14 bogs in all.

I am adding a tenth blog called Tidbits from Tucson. It is a collection of posts on a wide range of topics that don't fit my artwork display. It includes inspiring videos clips, recipes, essays, and more.

About Me

For 28 years, I ran a board and care home for chronically mentally ill in Tucson, and really enjoyed the work; but creating art has always been a part of my life.
I have worked in various media including oils and acrylics, stained glass, cloth and wood; but I have been concentrating on digital art for the past few years.
I have never made my living with art, but I do take it seriously. I don't want to give up my care giving work, but some supplemental income will be helpful.
I specialize in designs using flowers of the Arizona desert and think my creations reflect my appreciation for cacti and nature in general. Many of my designs feature mandalas, and I pray that all portray beauty and harmony.
In 2012, I moved back to Maine after 31 years in Arizona. I grew up in Maine, and am happy to be back. I will continue to add to my Cactus Hugger designs reflecting the beauty of Arizona, but will be adding designs that come from an appreciation of the beauty of Maine and New England. I am continuing work in care giving, and always like to do gardening wherever I am. I now live in the country and have chickens. I plan to add milking goats and more.

CONTACT

To contact me, ask questions, or order; you may use this e mail address:nightbloomingcards@gmail.com*******A phone number or address are available with arrangement.

APPRECIATION

I want to thank John Farley for his support over the last 25 years. He has been my sometimes tough mentor, friend and inspiration for all that time. He has helped many people during his unusual and amazing life. Twenty eight years ago, John also founded the board and care home I operate. It is just one of the ways he has dedicated his life to helping others. I hope to share more about his influence in the future.

Thanks also to Brian Ezzell. Brian has been very helpful in teaching me about computers in general and graphics programs specifically. Brian is a gifted painter who has good advice regarding various aspects of artistic pursuits.

I also want to thank my son, Chris, for getting me started with a lot of the digital graphics. He works in animation and has been unselfish in helping me learn the technology involved in creating the works you see here.

All three have been generous with their time and encouragement.

PURPOSE

My goal is to create art that has a positive effect on it's viewers. To that end you will see mostly bright, pure colors with little use of black or fire engine red. The themes are meant to inspire, encourage and please. All is done with peace and harmony in mind.*******While there is a place for political statements and calling attention to injustice, that is not my calling. Rather to make my art a reflection of contentment in my own heart is what I strive to express.*******That is the biggest areas for which I thank John. My life used to be chaotic; he has taught me how to bring order into my world. In that sense, I think of all my pictures as being a mandala or visual meditation.*******Let there be peace in our hearts, in our homes and in our world all year round. May my little creations contribute to the harmony in your world.

Animation

I have expanded my digital art into animation. I post the resulting videos on my Dancing Mandalas blog, and I have a You Tube channel at:

nightbloomingcards7*******I am also available for logo design and logo animation as demonstrated on the Dancing Mandalas blog.

ZAZZLE

I have started putting my products on Zazzle. It is an online site which gives artists a chance to market their products as customizable, on demand products. Through them, I will be able to offer prints, t shirts, mugs, bumper stickers and much more.*******I don't have all my designs posted on Zazzle, but I can post anything that you are interested in. I can also make them into whatever product you would like.*******It is a very nice service and I would recommend that you check them out.********You may link to the site with:http://www.zazzle.com/robert_coyne

MURALS YOUR WAY

There is an online service which creates murals for people to put on their wall as wall paper. They have a lot of beautiful designs available and I would recommend that you check them out. They can even take one of your own photographs and turn it into a custom mural.*******It allows me to offer you my mandala designs as murals. I can expand any of my designs as needed to make them suitable for a mural. If you give me the dimensions of your wall, I can even customize to that size.*******I have always wanted to do murals, but it is such a project; that I have never put it into effect. I would be thrilled to have one of my designs made into a mural, so I will happily do the design process for free and you will just need to pay the mural site for their end. I simply ask that you send me a photo of the finished mural.*******It appears that there are similar sites out there, but I have not checked them out yet. I would be willing to work with anyone.*******The link is:http://www.muralsyourway.com/

ORDERING

I am using Zazzle as my primary production house. You will find most of what you want available there. I can easily add whatever else you might want to that site. Zazzle does offer volume discounts. See:www.zazzle.com/robert_coyneIf, however, you want me to use a local printer to make up an order; I can do that. It is best to contact me by email for details and price.*******I can do most special orders without extra charge because new versions will become part of my inventory. There may need to be a small extra charge for some custom orders that have one-time applicability.*******Commission work and wholesale orders are negotiable. I am also open to collaboration, especially if someone wants to combine their writings or music with my graphics or animation.*******To see what I am doing with animation, see my blog:Dancing Mandalasor visit my You Tube channel at:nightbloomingcards7